Semper Fi Lives On at 1st Marine Division Association

Sgt. Maj. Juan Duff served in the 1^st Marine Division from 1973 to 2003, and he’s still serving his brothers.

Duff heads up the local 1^st Marine Division Association located at 403 N. Freeman St. in Oceanside.

“We have members all across the world – somewhere between 7,000 and 9,000,” Duff said, explaining that veterans range in age from about 21 to 92.

Born in 1941, the non-profit organization is open to all Marines and corpsman who have served in or in support of the 1^st Marine Division.

The Association’s worldwide chapters are living proof of the Corps legacy from Guadalcanal to Okinawa – or more recently, Al Anbar Province to Afghanistan, Duff said.

The Association is a Band of Brothers that cuts across age, rank, race, gender, social and economic differences--a family of warriors, he continued.

The organization also supports youth through a scholarship program.

For more information, visit www.1stmarinedivisionassociation.org or call the Oceanside chapter at 760-967-8561.